Sunday, June 01, 2014
The Art of Becoming Rich
Libanius, Progymnasmata: Comparationes 4.7 (tr. Craig A. Gibson):
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But as for merchants, their holdings are increased by false oaths, and the art of becoming rich is to show contempt toward the gods, and they sail to every city, doing this evil, lying, deceiving, and misleading. And whoever knows how to do this best will come away richest.
τοῖς δὲ γε ἐμπόροις ἐν ταῖς ἐπικορίαις τὰ ὄντα αὔξεται καὶ ἡ τέχνη πρὸς τὸ πλουτεῖν τὸ καταφρονεῖν τῶν θεῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν πόλιν πλέουσι τοῦτο τὸ κακὸν ἐργαζόμενοι, ψευδόμενοι, παράγοντες, παρακρουόμενοι. καὶ ὅστις ἄριστα οἴδε τοῦτο ποιεῖν, οὕτος εὐπορώτατος ἄπεισιν.
